Of the 75 migrants today, 3 were dismissed due to language barriers, 1 rescheduled in order to find a Meine language interpreter. Most received 30 days in prison, but 7 were sentenced to 180 days. All together they will spend 4255 days in mostly private prisons at a cost to U.S. taxpayers of $685,055.

Asylum Issue:According to attorney Isabel Amsel, Juan Angel Ventura-Ventura, a migrant fro El Salvador (17-20965M), doesn’t want to be deported back to dangerous El Salvador and will claim asylum once he is released from prison in 75 days into the custody of ICE. He had not claimed asylum to the Border Patrol agent when he was apprehended.

No migrants spoke except Miguel Angel Toledo-Sebastian, who before the Magistrate, spoke respectfully in English. “I believe in the life of this county. My intention is to work for a little time and then go home. Could you reduce my sentence?” (180 days)

Bowman said if she doesn’t honor the plea agreement he had signed, the prosecutor would be free to renege on dismissal of the felony charge and Miguel would face up to 20 years in prison. She recognized that he only intended to work and not cause harm if he stayed in the U.S. (Magistrates have no authority to change sentences assigned by the federal prosecutor, but only to conduct the prescribed court procedure, making sure migrants understand what is happening.)